ID :
195302
Sat, 07/16/2011 - 08:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/195302
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REBUKES WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Foreign Ministry has rebuked a Wall
Street Journal editorial titled "Crackdown 2.0 in Malaysia", which states that
protesters suffered "intimidation and repression" at the hands of the government
in recent weeks.
In a letter to the New York-based Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Wisma Putra
denied the accusation that protesters had suffered "intimidation and repression"
at the hands of the government in the build-up to the rally.
In the editorial, "Crackdown 2.0 in Malaysia", published on July 12, WSJ
described the handling of the rally as an "atmosphere of fear and repression"
and the government’s response to the "peaceful rally" as "brutal".
However, Wisma Putra in the letter which was published by the WSJ's Letters
to the Editor column today, explained that Malaysians have a constitutional
right to peaceful assembly and throughout the build-up to last weekend's protest
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak worked to find a solution that would
allow Bersih to exercise that right.
"This included offering the use of a large-capacity stadium where the event
could be held safely and without disrupting the lives and businesses of ordinary
Malaysians.
"Sadly the protest organisers chose to reject this offer, instead calling on
supporters to assemble at a much smaller stadium 'come what may', despite the
fact that it was unavailable," said Ahmad Rozian, Undersecretary of
Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the letter.
The Wisma Putra letter also explained that the police were forced to
intervene to disperse the crowd as thousands of people were attempting to
enter an unsuitable venue in a densely populated area and the presence of a
small minority protesters intent on violence.
"It goes without saying that Malaysia's police officers are expected to
maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, and any specific
allegations of heavy-handed behaviour will be thoroughly investigated.
"However, to claim that Saturday's events (illegal rally on July 9) mean
Malaysia is not a 'true democracy' is simply wrong. As the strong performance of
opposition parties in the last general election demonstrates, the ballot box
remains the most powerful force in Malaysian politics," concluded Wisma Putra in
the letter.
Meanwhile, WSJ in a separate column Friday carried a correction which
reads:
"The Malaysian government offered the Bersih rally the use of the Malawati
Stadium. A July 12 editorial, 'Crackdown 2.0 in Malaysia', stated that Prime
Minister Najib Razak had withdrawn his offer of a stadium.
Street Journal editorial titled "Crackdown 2.0 in Malaysia", which states that
protesters suffered "intimidation and repression" at the hands of the government
in recent weeks.
In a letter to the New York-based Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Wisma Putra
denied the accusation that protesters had suffered "intimidation and repression"
at the hands of the government in the build-up to the rally.
In the editorial, "Crackdown 2.0 in Malaysia", published on July 12, WSJ
described the handling of the rally as an "atmosphere of fear and repression"
and the government’s response to the "peaceful rally" as "brutal".
However, Wisma Putra in the letter which was published by the WSJ's Letters
to the Editor column today, explained that Malaysians have a constitutional
right to peaceful assembly and throughout the build-up to last weekend's protest
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak worked to find a solution that would
allow Bersih to exercise that right.
"This included offering the use of a large-capacity stadium where the event
could be held safely and without disrupting the lives and businesses of ordinary
Malaysians.
"Sadly the protest organisers chose to reject this offer, instead calling on
supporters to assemble at a much smaller stadium 'come what may', despite the
fact that it was unavailable," said Ahmad Rozian, Undersecretary of
Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the letter.
The Wisma Putra letter also explained that the police were forced to
intervene to disperse the crowd as thousands of people were attempting to
enter an unsuitable venue in a densely populated area and the presence of a
small minority protesters intent on violence.
"It goes without saying that Malaysia's police officers are expected to
maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, and any specific
allegations of heavy-handed behaviour will be thoroughly investigated.
"However, to claim that Saturday's events (illegal rally on July 9) mean
Malaysia is not a 'true democracy' is simply wrong. As the strong performance of
opposition parties in the last general election demonstrates, the ballot box
remains the most powerful force in Malaysian politics," concluded Wisma Putra in
the letter.
Meanwhile, WSJ in a separate column Friday carried a correction which
reads:
"The Malaysian government offered the Bersih rally the use of the Malawati
Stadium. A July 12 editorial, 'Crackdown 2.0 in Malaysia', stated that Prime
Minister Najib Razak had withdrawn his offer of a stadium.
